Key Takeaways:
- Italy is withdrawing from the Belt and Road Initiative, marking a shift in European attitudes towards China.
- Economic concerns and strategic considerations led to Italy’s decision.
- The EU is pursuing a broader strategy to reduce its reliance on China.
- Growing tensions between the EU and China remain unresolved.
Rome, Italy – December 7, 2023 – Italy, the only G7 nation to have participated in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has announced its withdrawal from the global infrastructure program. This decision, effective March 2024, reflects a hardening stance towards China among European nations.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed the widely anticipated move, stating that the 2019 agreement with China had failed to deliver promised economic benefits to Italy. However, she emphasized that Italy seeks to maintain good relations with China outside the BRI framework.
Meloni’s comments follow reports that Italy informed China of its decision not to renew the pact. This move aligns with the European Union’s broader strategy to “de-risk” its supply chains from China and secure sensitive technologies, viewing Beijing as a “systemic rival.”
Recent tensions between the EU and China were evident during a summit between EU leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping. While both sides discussed trade and the war in Ukraine, little concrete progress was achieved.
While China’s Foreign Ministry downplayed the Italian withdrawal, emphasizing the BRI’s “enormous appeal and global influence,” the move signifies a growing skepticism towards China’s global ambitions among European nations.
